The Hickensian

13.09.06 Design is just making things line up

62 comments

Just another simple desktop background, but one whose message makes me smile.

Download (2560×1600px)

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No.1

∞ Shaun Inman said 1245 days ago:

I’m sorry Jon, I just couldn’t help myself. :)

No.2

∞ Jon Hicks said 1245 days ago:

ha! You’re a git for making it look so nice too! :D

No.3

∞ Jina Bolton said 1245 days ago:

Jon, I like your other wallpapers in your collection, too.

No.4

∞ Flo Wagner said 1245 days ago:

Ha ha, great Shaun :D. No offence Jon, but I tend to support Shaun’s point of view. Or are these lines just an expression of the infamous British understatement?

No.5

∞ Shaun Inman said 1245 days ago:

Your type is much fuller. How’d you do it? I used Helvetica Neue 25 Ultra Light in Photoshop CS at 60px with Sharp anti-aliasing (I lopped off the dangles on my G’s cause I felt they were busying it up).

I thought that’s what you might have used but looking at the two side by side (dual monitors rock!) I can see I’m way off. Did you use Fireworks or a maybe different version of Helvetica?

No.6

∞ Jon Hicks said 1245 days ago:

Flo – its British Sarcasm™! I’m aware that it might not come across in text. Its like the ‘airy fairy designer’ desktop, or Veer’s ‘I draw pictures all day” t-shirt.

Shaun – Ah! I was using Chalet Paris 1960 (House Industries)! Amazing how close to Helvetica it was!

No.7

∞ Shaun Inman said 1245 days ago:

Silly me. It is amazing how similar they are in this context with only the J, S and K showing any differentiation (aside from the difference in weight).

I should add a sub to mine that says something like “you must use helvetica too.” ;)

Oh, and I got the sarcasm, my desktop is like those little plastic things you put in electric outlets when you have kids. You can switch to mine whenever those impressionable, non-designer types are around.

No.8

∞ Mark Forrester said 1245 days ago:

I’ve just spent the last 2 weeks making “things line up” for my new company website design. If only it was easy as it sounds.

No.9

∞ Dimitry B. said 1245 days ago:

This is great!

I’ve been looking to update my wallpaper recently, so perfect timing :)

Thanks

No.10

∞ Elly said 1245 days ago:

Fantastic!!!

I think I’ll have to put this on my desktop at work… see how many people I upset ;)

No.11

∞ Shane said 1245 days ago:

I’ll bear that in mind when I finally get around to doing something interesting with my own site.

Nicely lined up, by the way.

No.12

∞ Matt Chaput said 1245 days ago:

“whose”, not “who’s”

No.13

∞ Dan Rubin said 1245 days ago:

My turn to apologise, Jon…

No.14

∞ Roman said 1245 days ago:

Nice one :)

No.15

∞ Inge JÃ¸rgensen said 1245 days ago:

Design is more than jumping on bandwagons :)

No.16

∞ Sage said 1245 days ago:

This absolutely must must must be made into a t-shirt! Pretty please?

No.17

∞ Si Jobling said 1244 days ago:

Which one to choose…??

Maybe I should rotate them daily for the next couple of weeks until someone at notices that they’re changing and says something.

Yep, that’s what I’m going to do. Starting with the original (obviously).

No.18

∞ Marko said 1244 days ago:

ups
http://www.flickr.com/photos/markomihelcic/243037521/

No.19

∞ Jehiah said 1244 days ago:

Design is more than just skin deep

No.20

∞ Richard Rutter said 1244 days ago:

Jonny boy, make this into a t-shirt and I promise I will buy at least two. They’ll sell like hotcakes, I tell ya.

No.21

∞ Veerle Pieters said 1244 days ago:

How could I resist this? The human flesh is weak :D

No.22

∞ Olof LÃ¶nnroth said 1244 days ago:

Doh! I couldn’t resist the temptation

No.23

∞ mel said 1244 days ago:

I just could not help myself!

No.24

∞ Bryan Peters said 1244 days ago:

Hansel: It’s in the computer. It’s so simple…

No.25

∞ matthew Maber said 1244 days ago:

Sorry, I also couldnt help myself.

No.26

∞ karmadude said 1244 days ago:

I put it on my desktop, then lined up all the icons on my desktop, and finally jumped on the bandwagon and created, Design is Just Layering and Masking. Seems like a waste of time, but at least my desktop looks clean now!!

No.27

∞ paul said 1244 days ago:

I couldn’t resist

No.28

∞ rhodyl said 1244 days ago:

im itchy…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22019066@N00/243497843/

http://www.rhodyl.com

No.29

∞ Chris Heilmann said 1244 days ago:

Oh well, why the heck not

No.30

∞ Jon Hicks said 1243 days ago:

Agh! Its out of control!! It was never meant to be a meme!

Inman, report to my office, you have some explaining to do!

No.31

∞ Geert Leyseele said 1243 days ago:

Yeah Shaun needs a serious ass whooping :o)

No.32

∞ Stewart Curry said 1243 days ago:

very funny!

No.33

∞ Adam Schilling said 1243 days ago:

Thanks for the inadvertant meme, Jon.

No.34

∞ Nice Paul said 1243 days ago:

As the Cranberries once said:
Everybody Else is Doing it so Why Can’t We?

No.35

∞ Adam Schilling said 1243 days ago:

Y’know, it’s some kind of cool to spawn the creation of at least 80 imitations from a single image (and, mostly, all in one day)!

Granted it’s all in admiration and jest – a ‘tribute to Jon’, if you will. However, I’ve been wondering if it bugs you? I hope not. :-) It was some fun … and a nice distraction from deadlines. Speaking of which …

Thanks for the new desktop!

No.36

∞ Mark Norman Francis said 1243 days ago:

One more over here.

No.37

∞ Ian Halliday said 1243 days ago:

Better late than never, and I has a quote pinned on the wall I just had to use.

No.38

∞ Oliver said 1243 days ago:

Rolling in with a late entry

No.39

∞ David Guillory said 1243 days ago:

Keeping the dream alive.

No.40

∞ Meri said 1243 days ago:

Oooh ooh, me too, me too!

flickr and blog

No.41

∞ Marco said 1242 days ago:

Better late than never: here’s mine!

No.42

∞ Miha Hribar said 1242 days ago:

OK don’t have the exact font, but this is the closest I could get :)

Design is just making things messy

No.43

∞ Chris Cagle said 1242 days ago:

Ohh Mr Hicks… look what you started. this was a bandwagon I couldn’t refuse…

http://www.cagintranetworks.com/projects/2006/09/design-wallpaper-bandwagon/

No.44

∞ Bart said 1241 days ago:

Design is…

No.45

∞ Tom said 1239 days ago:

This game is going to be addictive.. insane!

No.46

∞ Michael MÃ¼ller said 1239 days ago:

Great response from all of you! I think I might be joining th spirit. ;)

No.47

∞ Cole Henley said 1238 days ago:

No.48

∞ Sam said 1238 days ago:

Better late than never.

No.49

∞ RoT said 1237 days ago:

Here goes my wall :P
Design is paying attention to details – 1600×1200

No.50

∞ Mark said 1236 days ago:

It’s like when your parents tell you not to pick at a scab. We just coudln’t resist

We’ll try harder next time. Promise. :)

No.51

∞ Jon Hicks said 1235 days ago:

Mark, thats a gorgeous one, and so is your site! I’m glad that you didn’t take it too seriously too!

No.52

∞ hot-elle said 1235 days ago:

nice wallpaper… thx

No.53

∞ Visitor said 1235 days ago:

“Design is…” NOT COPYING off someone else’s idea…Sorry. I don’t mean to be rude, but look into “Art is…”

At least say you’re tributing something I could understand then – but don’t just out and out steal a campaign idea…

No.54

∞ Jon Hicks said 1234 days ago:

I really have no idea whether to delete that last comment or not. What the hell was that all about anonymous coward? Does anyone know?

No.55

∞ Visitor said 1234 days ago:

just a little awareness is all. again – I’m not saying there’s anything designed poorly here or that it’s bad or anything at all. I don’t want to come off mean. I just don’t know how big a fan I am of the whole “Art is…” and now “Design is…” ... just doesn’t do it for me, and I’m not sure if you copied an idea or not. I just think people should understand a little history in design and art in this world.

No.56

∞ Jon Hicks said 1234 days ago:

Eh? Huh? Are you off your head? Just what on earth are you talking about? Hah, Is this Fergus Webber come back to wind me up?

This is a ironic desktop. Thereâ€™s no copying here, this is a thought that came into my head and I made a deskop out of it. Then a lot of people took upon themselves to make it into a meme and â€˜Design isâ€¦â€™ was everywhere. Its not meant to be a series.

Thatâ€™s the last anonymous comment I will allow you to post. Show yourself. What is this â€˜Art isâ€¦â€™ thing you keep going on about?

No.57

∞ Visitor said 1234 days ago:

my apologies then. you are not the one at fault.

No.58

∞ Jon Hicks said 1233 days ago:

You still haven’t explained what this “Art is..” thing you go on about, or said who you are.